More Magical Moments From The Optical Printer
NZPete dives back into his vast treasure chest of matte magic sharing fresh gems from the optical printer era with warm enthusiasm for old‑school artistry…
17th September 2026
Matte Shot
2026
The work of Ken Marschall & Bruce Block – Part Three
A heartfelt tribute to the breathtaking matte artistry and seamless blends that define Ken and Bruce’s craft, culminating in a vivid journey into Titanic’s haunting depths…
14th September 2026
The Work of Ken Marschall & Bruce Block – Part 1
A deep dive into the artistry behind classic matte illusions, spotlighting two masters whose meticulous craft shaped unforgettable cinematic worlds with quiet brilliance…
10th September 2026
Lands of Wonder, Romance & High Adventure – Part 3
A treasure‑packed finale bursting with vintage spectacle, dazzling artistry and enough old‑school magic to make any effects fan grin like they’ve found a secret vault…
3rd September 2026
Summer Magic and Johnny Tremain
A compact look at Disney’s matte artistry in Summer Magic and Johnny Tremain highlighting subtle scenic enhancements and classic studio craftsmanship across two mid‑century productions…
8th July 2026
From Comic Strip to Matte Painted Wonderland
A vibrant dive into Dick Tracy’s bold comic‑strip aesthetic, celebrating its dazzling matte artistry, stylised production design, and the pulpy escapist charm that makes the film such a visual treat…
1st July 2026
Whitlock Retraces History
Revisits the artistry and techniques that shaped Albert Whitlocks matte painting legacy, tracing the evolution of visual effects craft across decades of Hollywood history…
30th June 2026
Walter Percy Day – The Master of the Matte
A concise look at Walter Percy Day’s pioneering matte artistry tracing his influence from silent‑era innovation to mid‑century visual effects craftsmanship across British and European cinema…
29th June 2026
Cinema Goes to War
Exploring classic war films like Tora Tora Tora and Objective Burma celebrating their remarkable practical effects matte artistry and the breathtaking physical sequences that defined the genre…
3rd June 2026
Moby Dick – Mattes and Miniatures
Exploring the remarkable matte paintings and miniature effects that brought John Huston’s 1956 Moby Dick to life showcasing a golden era of handcrafted cinematic artistry…
2nd June 2026
Disney’s The Love Bug
A nostalgic look back at Disney’s The Love Bug recalling its original release and celebrating the film’s charming effects work and enduring family‑friendly appeal…
1st June 2026
The Epics – The Final Chapter
A final look at the remarkable matte artistry behind epic cinema celebrating lesser known films and the enduring work of Whitlock Ellenshaw and other visual effects masters…
30th May 2026
The Epics – Matte Shots – Part 11
Exploring the remarkable matte artistry behind Land of the Pharaohs highlighting Lou Litchtenfield’s sweeping ancient vistas and the enduring craftsmanship of classic Hollywood epics…
29th May 2026
The Epics – Matte Shots – Part 10
Exploring how Twentieth Century Fox revolutionised widescreen filmmaking in 1953 as CinemaScope and The Robe ushered in a new era of expansive matte artistry…
28th May 2026
The Epics – Matte Shots: Part 9
Exploring the impressive matte artistry of Alexander the Great showcasing sweeping ancient vistas and the meticulous Golden Era visual effects that shaped this 1956 historical epic…
27th May 2026
The Epics: Part 8
A look at the lavish Rank adaptation of Shaw’s play highlighting the ambitious production scale and the exquisite matte artistry of Walter Percy Day and Peter Ellenshaw…
26th May 2026
The Epics – HELEN OF TROY Matte Shots: Part 7
A look at the sweeping matte artistry of Helen of Troy showcasing vast ancient cityscapes and the meticulous visual effects craftsmanship behind Warner Bros’ grand 1956 epic…
25th May 2026
The Epics – Three Fox Films Matte Shots – Part 6
A curated look at three classic 20th Century Fox productions highlighting the studio’s elegant matte artistry and the meticulous craftsmanship of its mid‑century visual effects team…
23rd May 2026
The Epics – Ben Hur Matte Shots – Part 5
A detailed look at the remarkable matte paintings and miniatures that helped shape Ben‑Hur’s monumental scale showcasing MGM’s Golden Era craftsmanship at its peak…
22nd May 2026
The Epics – The Agony and the Ecstacy Matte Shots – Part 4
A look at L.B. Abbott’s exceptional matte work for The Agony and the Ecstasy showcasing the film’s grand Renaissance vistas and meticulous 20th Century Fox craftsmanship…
28th April 2026
The Epics… The Greatest Story Ever Told Matte Shots – Part 3
A look at the sweeping matte artistry of The Greatest Story Ever Told highlighting the epic vistas and meticulous craftsmanship behind George Stevens’ monumental Biblical production…
27th April 2026
The Epics…QUO VADIS Matte Shots – Part 2
A showcase of the impressive matte artistry behind Quo Vadis highlighting the grand Roman vistas and meticulous craftsmanship that defined MGM’s monumental Biblical epic…
26th April 2026
The Epics… King of Kings Matte Shots – Part 1
A look at the majestic matte paintings of King of Kings showcasing the epic scale and Golden Era artistry that defined Hollywood’s grand Biblical spectacles…
25th April 2026
A Scrapbook of Memorable Matte Moments
A curated celebration of Albert Whitlock’s finest matte paintings, showcasing the invisible artistry and Golden Era craftsmanship that shaped some of Hollywood’s most memorable cinematic moments…
24th April 2026
Matte & Effects Films Celebrated: Part Twelve
Exploring rare and unseen matte paintings and classic film effects in another deep dive celebrating the artistry and movie‑magic craftsmanship of Hollywood’s traditional Golden Era…
6th April 2026
The Burning of Atlanta
A focused look at the matte artistry behind Atlanta’s fiery destruction highlighting the painters techniques and optical craftsmanship that brought this iconic sequence to life…
14th March 2026
A tribute to Jack Cosgrove
A respectful look at Jack Cosgrove’s pioneering matte artistry tracing his early GWTW contributions and the enduring visual craftsmanship that defined Hollywood’s Golden Age illusions…
13th March 2026
Matte & Effects Films Celebrated: Part Eleven
Another deep dive into classic matte artistry spotlighting ingenious optical work miniature craftsmanship and the enduring visual techniques that shaped cinema’s most ambitious illusions…
12th March 2026
Matte & Effects Films Celebrated: Part Ten
A continued exploration of traditional matte artistry celebrating ingenious optical work miniature craftsmanship and the enduring visual techniques that shaped cinema’s most ambitious visual illusions…
11th March 2026
Matte & Effects Films Celebrated: Part Nine
A continued showcase of traditional matte artistry highlighting inventive optical work miniature craftsmanship and the enduring visual techniques that shaped cinema’s most iconic illusions…
10th March 2026
